From Marine Protected Areas South Africa website:

After the 2011 National Biodiversity Assessment noted that offshore ecosystems were poorly protected, the Offshore MPA project (2007- 2011) initiated plans to increase protection of offshore ecosystems, which were advanced towards implementation during Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy. A total of 22 new MPAs were gazetted for comment in 2016 as part of a lengthy consultation process. The South African Cabinet granted permission to declare a revised network of 20 new MPAs in October 2018. It took several months to prepare the declaration notices and final regulations. This culminated in the gazetting of 20 new MPAs on 23 May 2019. These take effect on 1 August 2019 and expand the protection of South Africa’s mainland ocean territory to 5%.

From the Operation Phakisa website:

20 new MPAs, and two expanded MPAs were identified through Operation Phakisa‚ a presidential project to fast-track the development of South Africa’s Ocean Economy. The new MPAs will secure protection of marine habitats like reefs‚ mangroves and coastal wetlands which are required to help protect coastal communities from the results of storm surges‚ rising sea-levels and extreme weather. Offshore‚ these MPAs will protect vulnerable habitats and secure spawning grounds for various marine species‚ therefore helping to sustain fisheries and ensure long-term benefits important to food and job security.

Draft regulations to declare network of marine protected areas (9 Feb 2016) TimesLIVE.co.za

The new MPAs were identified through Operation Phakisa‚ a presidential project to fast-track the development of South Africa’s Ocean Economy.

“Many of these new MPAs aim to protect offshore ecosystems and species‚ ranging from deep areas along the Namibian border to a more than tenfold expansion of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in the KwaZulu-Natal Province."

The new MPAs will secure protection of marine habitats like reefs‚ mangroves and coastal wetlands which are required to help protect coastal communities from the results of storm surges‚ rising sea-levels and extreme weather. Offshore‚ these MPAs will protect vulnerable habitats and secure spawning grounds for various marine species‚ therefore helping to sustain fisheries and ensure long-term benefits important to food and job security.

While not specifically slated for designation as a marine protected area, the Child’s Bank region off South Africa’s West Coast has been included in a 2004 proposal by the South African government to create five new MPAs. When these MPAs are designated, the Child’s Bank region will be included in the Namaqualand Marine Protected Area, a 9700 km² no-take area that protects shallow and deep water habitats that support commercially important fish species such as hake, kingfish, monkfish, rock lobster, and tuna.

Government of South Africa, 2004. “Minister Moosa announces five new marine protected areas”: http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2004/04021710461003.htm

ZAF Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2004. Notice of intention to declare the Namaqualand Marine Protected Area: http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za/pssa/articles/includes/Namaqualand_Notice.pdf

ZAF Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 2004. Map of the Namaqualand Marine Protected Area: http://www.bcb.uwc.ac.za/pssa/articles/images01/Namaqualand.jpg